Similarly, the side-view styling is smoothly contoured, with no clunky side cladding. As with the front end, there is abundant chrome, including on the door handles, the exterior mirrors, side moldings, full-length roof rails (which provide anchor points for accessory crossbars for securing cargo on the roof) and Venti-ports above the front wheels, an emerging trend but not functional like those on some Land Rovers.

Another clear response to market trends are the optional 22-inch chrome wheels, which visually plant the vehicle, completely filling the Escalade's huge wheelwells and making the standard 18-inch wheels look positively puny by comparison (though for reasons beyond cosmetics we prefer the 18-inch wheels).

Particularly appreciable in colder climates are the pull-type door handles that are easy to grasp, even with gloves on. They're also more comfortable, less likely to snap away from your fingers and less likely to break a fingernail.

The rear view features a modern interpretation of Cadillac's classic slim, vertical taillights, which recall the dramatic tailfins of Cadillacs of the 1960s and '70s, but are now rendered in crisp LED strips. A high-mounted, horizontal brake light with LED illumination crosses the top. But the dominant feature of the Escalade's tail is the enormous badge set within a chunky block of chrome trim.

The liftgate opens and closes by pushbutton as a hatch, or glass-only for lighter items. Since the Escalade is based on a truck chassis the cargo load floor is 32.3 inches off the ground. The Class III tow hitch that comes standard is covered by a trim panel that is removable when not needed, and which easily can be refitted once a trailer is detached.